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8 Responses to “Welcome to My Breakdown”

I have read all of your books and enjoyed them immensely. I’m a little over half way through Welcome to My Breakdown and it has touched me very deeply. My mom died on Mother’s Day in 2014 and as we approach the one year anniversary sometimes I don’t know if I’m depressed in general as I am approaching 50 or if I’m still grieving for her. Thank you so much for sharing your journey. I have seen myself in so many parts of the book and it makes me feel less alone. I’ve already recommended it to my sister.

The day after Phyllis Hyman committed suicide I boarded a plane to Mazatlan Mexico. I couldn’t name it at the time but I felt a certain solidarity with her plight. It wasn’t until a few days later – July 4 – when I found myself paralyzed by dread, with my tears pooling in my ears, and I said aloud, “Phyllis Hyman had the right idea.”

Fortunately, I could articulate three reasons why I shouldn’t follow her lead and pulled it together and flew home early from my vacation.

I can’t say I had a breakdown but I do know I had been “broken” for a very long time and at that point no amount of smiling was enough to hold me together.

I’ve only shared that with a few people and certainly not in a public forum, but Welcome To My Breakdown is giving me the key to be honest about my depression.

I haven’t finished reading the book, but know there is a light at the end.

Oh Juan. I just love that my book has opened up something so important in you. The fact that I know you makes my heart so happy. Yes, I remember when Phyllis Hyman committed suicide and I remember thinking that she was such a sensitive soul (a Cancer, like me), which explained why her music moved me and many, so much. I also remember the comments, lots of but she was so pretty, so talented. When someone has depression, nothing external matters. I’m hoping everyone who reads this book or hears talk about it will have the same thing happen for them–that they will feel free to “come out.” I believe, I know, the way to true freedom and contentment is by owing all of who you are. Bless you, my brother. I’m so proud to know you.

I just finished your book and wanted to thank you so much for being courageous and sharing your story. I love the way you honored your mother and I know first hand what it feels like to have your own personal cheerleader. You can’t’ buy that kind of love and you were so blessed to have had it. Your struggle with finding a balance between feeling overwhelmingly blessed and not being satisfied with the ‘kept woman/housewife/mommy role resonated deeply with me. You can’t share those kinds of feelings with most, because if you do, you are viewed as ungrateful, and there aren’t many women who understand that kind of internal emptiness when you appear to have it all. Congratulations on another winner!

I just wanted to say how wonderful your book was!! Welcome to My Breakdown was written with such vibrant characters that I could not put the book down! I can relate to the feeling of grieving the loss of your Mother. I lost both my Parents at a very young age and still miss their presence in my life. You have inspired me to write my Memoir, because I have a very interesting story to tell!! Thank you for writing this Memoir, wishing you continued success!!

About Me:

This blog began as a way to introduce the memoir I was working on, Welcome to My Breakdown. After several years, the book is done and published and available. You can buy it here or clicking on my author tab below.

This is my first non-fiction work. I wrote four best-selling novels: Good Hair; (which is available for the first time as an E-book), The Itch, Acting Out, Who Does She Think She Is? All have been re-issued and can be bought via the same author tab or through my page on the Simon & Schuster website.

My momoir (yeah, I just made it up) is about the grief that surrounded me after my much-loved mother died. It's about me falling off the cliff, from which I'd been dangling, and plunging into a cavern of depression so dark and scary that I didn't think I'd find my way out. The book is about coming out of the kind of depression that the writer David Foster Wallace called a "a nausea of the soul." Some of the stories about my smart, determined, hard-working, hilarious mother, I think, will resonate with many of you who also had formidable moms.

But the blog also about other stuff: Things that inspire, confound and interest me as a writer, a mother, a wife and as a human being. I hope you'll join my community. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.